A special American Innovation $1 Coin was minted and issued in 2018 to introduce this new series. The obverse of the coin features the same common obverse design as all the other coins in the series. The reverse design features a representation of President George Washington’s signature on the first-ever U.S. patent issued on July 31, 1790.
American Innovation® $1 Coin Program
The United States Mint American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a multi-year series to honor innovation and innovators by issuing $1 coins for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U. S. territories – Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Four new $1 coins with distinctive reverse designs will be released each year from 2019 through 2032 in the order the states ratified the Constitution of the United States or were admitted to the Union. Once a coin is issued for each state, coins will be released for the District of Columbia and the territories.
Coins are available for purchase on our Shop page.
The common obverse (heads side) of all the coins in this series features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty and the required inscriptions “$1,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse (tails side) design features an image or images emblematic of a significant innovation, an innovator, or group of innovators from one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the territories; the name of the state, the District of Columbia, or territory, as applicable; and the required inscription “United States of America.”
Coins in this series will display the year of minting or issuance, the mint mark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the edge of the coins.
Watch the video below to learn how the Mint created the Delaware 2019 American Innovation $1 Coin.
- The United States Mint initiates the formal design process for each State, District, or Territory by contacting the Office of the Governor, or other Chief Executive, to request appointment of an official liaison with whom the Mint can work in developing the American Innovation $1 Coins.
- The official liaison, after consultation with relevant subject matter experts, and on behalf of the Governor or chief executive, identifies 1-3 design concepts emblematic of innovation significant and meaningful to their jurisdiction and/or its role in the nation.
- The Secretary of the Treasury (or his/her designee) selects design concepts appropriate for use in developing $1 coin candidate designs.
- The Mint presents the design concepts to the artists in a design brief, soliciting input from historical and technical experts for Mint artists to consider as they begin composing candidate designs.
- The Mint reviews design submissions for coinability, accuracy, appropriateness, and any legal issues, and artists modify the designs as necessary. The Mint provides the portfolio of designs to the liaison for review.
- Utilizing subject matter expertise as necessary, the liaison reviews the portfolio of designs for technical and historical accuracy and appropriateness. The Mint consults with the liaison to identify necessary modifications to the portfolio. The Mint artists revise designs as needed.
- The Mint presents the candidate designs to the official liaison and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for consultation and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) for review. The Mint may make changes to the designs to address any concerns or recommendations resulting from these presentations.
- The Mint provides candidate designs (as well as the associated comments/recommendations of the official liaison, the CCAC and the CFA) to the Secretary of the Treasury.
- The Secretary of the Treasury selects the final design.